Electric torch which floats lamp uppermost in water



Au 7, 1945. c. w. SAUNDERS 2,381,520

ELECTRIC TORCH WHICH FLOATS LAMP UPPERMOST IN WATER Filed May 24} 1943 R my. 2.

INVE NTOR N i I Gun/725$ M1 MCFjQw/DE/YS HGT PORN EY Patented Aug. 7, 1945 ELECTRICTOBCH WHICH FLOATS LAMP rPEItMos'r IN WATER Charles Wallace Saunders, Bramley, England, as- I signor to The General Electric Company Li'mited, London, England a Application May 24,1943, Serial No. 488,164

In Great'Britain June 3, .1942

15 Claims.

This invention'relates to electric torches and, more particu1arly,to torches which are suitable for use at sea. The object of the invention is to provide a'torch of simple construction which will when immersed inwater; float withthe bulb clear of the water. Such a torch is of use in a number of circumstances, one; of the most important at the present time being that'it may act as an indication by which a rescue vessel may be guided to a person in the'waterand in need of being rescued; Torches in accordance with the invention are made watertight, and are therefore suitable foruse in damp'atmospheres and in circumstances inwhich they are liable 'to accidental immersion in water,'even though, in these latter cases, the'abilityiof the torch to float bulb-up ermost in water is not necessary. A further object is the provision of an electric torch construction such that it may be held in reserve for considerable periods ready foruse;

irrespectiveof storage conditions, and offer maximum' reliabilit y 'when required for use, as for examplein an emergency' v The invention is illustrated'in twoalternative" constructions which I I Fig. lis a longitudinal sectional view of the torch in one construction,

in' the accompanying drawing, in

Fig. 2 is a partialview'oi the lower end of the torch, and 7 Fig, 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of an alternative construction of torch.

The torch illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a watertight tubular casing I, which at the lamp end has a screwed portion 2 of reduced diameter. Onto the portion 2 is screwed a cap 3, and

a-rubber washers is clamped between the cap and the part -2. The'top 5 of the cap 2 is apertured to forma socket for the lamp 6, which is protected by a dome I of translucent synthetic resincoloured red, which is screwed into a socket 8' formed outside the top of the cap 3. The joint between thesocket'il and the dome 1 is made water-tight. v I 1 In the other end of the casing I is fixed a plate III, the; end of'the casingnextending beyond the plate, and forming a shoulder portion I I.' On the outside of the plate I ismounted a, screwed portion I2Lof a diameter which leaves an annular space between itand the shoulder II, and over the end of the-part I2 is screwed a centrally apertured can 3; a flexible rubber" cap I4 being clamped between'the' pa'rtsl2 and I3. Mounted in a, sleeve' l5 onthe plate I0 is a plunger I6 7 which is urged outwardly by a spring and has its inner end I6'1 extending within the" casing I-.

The flattened head of the plunger I6 lies close against the middle of the diaphragm portion of the rubber cap I4.

Through aperturesin the casing I extend two oppositely placed studs 'II, carried on the ends of a bow spring a part I2 and the shoulder II of the casing.

'Over the end of the outer casing passes freely a centrally apertured switch-operating, cap I8,

having an inwardly directed boss I9 surrounding the'aperture, and oppositely disposed bayonet slots 20 in whichthe studs I6 engage. A sealing wire 2| is soldered between one of the studs being pressed furtherxonto the casing before the central terminal at its upper end. Fitted closely over this terminal is one end of a split metal tube 26, which forms the conducting spac- I! and a point on the cap I8 to prevent the cap torch is to be put in use.

Inside the casing and located at-its lower-end in a shallow recessin the plate I0 is an insulating tube 22 of cardboard havingan apertured insulating disc 23 at its lower end through which passes the inner end I6 of the plunger I6, while of the tube 22 is located by fitting snugly within thereduced upper end 2 of the casing I. Within the tube 22, and against the bottom disc 23,-is placed the battery 24, with the other end ing member between the battery and the lamp 6 of the torch. An insulating fibre disc 21 fixed on the lower end of the spacing member 26 covers the top of the battery 24 and fits closely within the insulating tube 22. Another fibre disc 28 upper end of also fits closely within Within this end of the spacing member a spring plunger contact 29 adapted to make constant contact with the terminal 6' of the lamp. A helical spring 30, stronger than the spring .urging the contact plunger 29, is soldered tovthe underside of the lamp socket 5 and is compressed between the lamp socket and the fibre washer 28 on the spacing member 26. It will be seen that the spring 30 presses the spacing member '26 and battery 24 onto the bottom'23 of the cardboard tube 22 and'the latter onto the plate ID of v the casing I. v v I A lanyard 3| to enable the torch tobe attached to the person, is fastened to a pin 32 passed through the inturned boss I9 of the switch operv v ating cap' I8.

To test the torch, and to determine that it is in working order without breaking the seal 2|, it is only necessary to'insert, say, a match-'ora I'I' located between the screwed the spacing member 26 a I the cardboard tube 22.

26 is fixed I pencil through the opening in the cap [8 and depress the switch plunger IB to make contact with the battery 24. An implement for this purpose may be provided on the lanyard 3|.

To operate the lamp the seal wire 2| is broken, whereupon the switch operating cap l8 can be freely depressedlagainstthe springrof the-switch plunger IG and When the" cap I8. is depressed to its full extent, a part turn of the cap about its axis will lock the plunger switch [6 in the on position, the pins ['1 engaging in the circumferential parts of the slots 20: Alternatiyely,'.to

SI and mounted in a ring 63 soldered on the flange 64 of the extensionmember 65 of the casing 56.

The cap 58 may be'used as before after the sealing wire has been broken, either for signalling with the torch or to lock the switch in the onw position In.thew latter. position the plunger: 53" will preferablyr raise.- the, battery slightly from the disc 5|, compressing the spring 43 between the battery 42 and spacing memuse the lamp for Morse signalling, the'cap'" IB is l I alternately pressed inwards andireleasedr Preferably the plunger sWitChciS-v so: dimen sioned as to make contact with the bottom of the battery 24 without the cap! 8.being dep ressed.- to its full extent. A further depression ofithe cap l8 which will enable the pins l! to engage and lock in the circumferential parts of the" bayonet slots.- 20, pushes in. the plunger I I6v so. far that the batterytis slightly raised oi the disc! 23, with the consequent lifting of the spacer member 25 andcompression' of'the spring. 30. Thiswill not materially alter the load upon the contact terminal-6" of the lamp, because the spring contact 29,1 at the top of the spacing member 25 willl yield'againstl its comparatively light spring, and. the lamp, terminal v is thus protected against any i violent shock that mighttleadltosinjury tortheulamp. or dis placement of l the lamp, in I its socket;

A -modified.-construction "of. torch according to the present inventionisshownin Fig. 3. 'Here the spacing member 40..is. not mounted directly onzthe terminal .41 of -the battery 42). but iaJspiral. spring 43 is soldered to the-undersideof thedis'c. 44 on y-the lower end of the spacing member.. and this' spring-v carries: at its; outer end" a; shallowcan 415; adapted to seat itself. on the terminal; 41. Thisaarrangementmaybe preferred," be:- cause; in practice itis found. that the batteries suitable-fonthese torches? dot not alwayshave; terminals of-- the same-diameter, and sometimes,

the-rterminal extends vonly verylittler abovelthe.

tom' eof the insulating-sleeve. 52: containing, 1e.

battery and spacing member; The; switch plunge er 53slides. in a=sleeve 54 mountedtinr al'di'sc 55.1 soldered across the.- wate-rtightv-casing 56-4 and; passes: upwards through V a, central. aperturelin thevdiso $54. Itis adapted/ tolbetpressed inwards= towards .-the b atte-ry;- 4-2; against theaction: of. the=- Itrxother respectsthe construction of the torch illustrated'in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that in" Fig; 1.

V Iaclaimr v erated throughsaid deformable, portion, of. the.

casingjand'tourge the battery and conducting. spacing member towards the lamp.

2*. An electric torch, comprising. a. water. tight tubular, casing including a'deforrnable portion, a lamp. socket andllampimountedlon one. end of' said; casing, a battery mounted at the other endofsaidQcasing, afirigid. electrically conductivemember .disposedbetween said lampand battery, to; space l the. same. apart and; electrically, connect 7 a termin almofl saicLv lamp tosa terminal of. said. battery, said.. member being, sutficiently, long to ensure thatthetorch lwillfloatninwater with, the lamp endauppermost and at or. above waterllevel, andfswitch means .operable through i said deformable portion to closethe circuitrbe tween the. other terminal of said battery :and the other terminalhof said lamp, and to-u-rgesaid-battery and spacing membentow-ards/thelamptupon closingrof:theswitchr, I

3. Anelectricttorcht as\ set forth in; claim 2. wherein a resilient electrically conductive mem ber electrically interconnects;- the. spacing member with the first name dtterminalloflthe lamp and wherein another; resilient-lmember urges springvfah-w-henlthe switchtoperating canYEillisM- pressed upwards, the boss 59'of cap 58Lbearing. upon the head of the plunger 53; through; the rubberidiaphragm 60. r t

The cap:58 is:provided-.las beforeA]with.bayonet -v slots 6|, but these instead of co-operating with pinskcarriedl by a bowed ,spring, as. in the .arrangement o-f Fig. .Lworh-omsetserews .62 have ing; plain shoulders working freely, in". thex slots said spacing member and said battery away frome said-lamp rwherebyfuponclcsing ofsaid; switch, saidrbattery andspacing member are displaced toward" said :lamp; and- 1 both said resilient memberscompresseda v 1 p 4;; An. electric; torch comprising: a-water. tights tubular casingy; including an deformable portion, an lamp'socketz and lamppmounted: on. oneend ofsaid casing; a batterylmounted at theeotherv-end of:- sa idz casing; a rigid; electrically conductivememberrdisposedrbetween saidnlamp and-battery to -spacev the; same: apart and electrically? con 118013; a; .te'rmina'lr ofasaid lamp; to: i a l terminal of; said; ibattery,; .saiot member:beinggsufiiciently; long] to ensure that the torch will float in waterwithl theelamp; end z uppermostsandsam or abovenvater level, raw resilienti electricallya. conductive :member. electrically 'andi physically; interconnecting said" spacing: member: with). said i lamps terminaht and switcmmeansz operablei thirougatrrsaid deformable; portion to 1 close the, circuita between: the.- other; terminal rofisaid :battery; and? the-other terminal 1 ofisa-id lamn andltopurgez saidsbattery and, spacingjrnen ber towardsethe-ilamp uponclosingof the switch.

,5. A n electricttorchQc mprising a water tight.

a lamp socke t -a were sed he res Me a to urge-saidbatt'ery and-spacingmembertowards tubular "casing' including it serene-able para-m;

par

y a fixed stopmember located within the casingiii he region of fthe-= 1a p sdjcketfmeans for sup 0,0 l bet-with connectihg'said battery-termiha and saidflo'ther 'id of member; '-andswitch means ddeformablefportiont'o close the'circuit between Y terminal er said lla'mp u j lrps n .oftheiswitch-v eIectric tOrcH c mpr'i'si'n'g a water tight tubular casing including a deformable portion, a lamp socket and lamp mounted on one end'of said casing, a rigid electrically conductive memberdisposed between said lamp and battery to space thejsame apart and electrically connect a terminal of said lamp to a terminal of said batlamp end uppermost and at or above water level,

r d lamp mounted on oneenfd Qf ember electrically interc ampjtermiha lfa resilient electrically. conductive: member ele-trically'andmhysically tery, said-memberv being sufficiently long to en sure that the torch will float in water with the said casing; ba'ttery mounted-atetla'e otheif end:

spacethe sanie a tube for" locating of said' casi-ng; arrigi'd electricaill y conductive'mem ber disposed 'between said l'amp ar'rd -batte'ry to part;

tery saidmember being sufficiently long to ensure that-the torchwill fioat water-with the lamp end uppjermostand at orabovewate'r' le'vell' an ins'ulatingtube within the tu-bular casing-"and surrounding both the battery" and" the rigid condiictive spacing me nb r," discs within the insulating ber in'said 'tube; 'fiired-"stop merxiber located withinthecasing in'the region of thelamp socket; I

a yielding spring contactbetween said-battery terminal and the -adj a-cent end of the spacing other terminal offsaid lamp; V and an insulatingtube within the tubular casing and u surrounding both thebattery and a rigid conductive spacingmember discs within the insulating tube for locating both ends .of said spacing member in said tube, and switch means operable through said deformable portion tov close the circuit between the other terminal of said battery and the other terminal of said lamp, and to urgesaid battery and spacing member towards the lamp upon closing of the switch.

, 7. An electric torch comprising a:water tight tubular casing including a deformable portion, a lamp socket and lamp mounted on one endof said casing, a battery mounted at the other end of said casing, a rigid electrically conductive member disposed between said lamp and battery to space the same apart and electrically connect a terminal ofsaid lamp to a terminal of said battery, said member being sufficiently long. to ensure that the torch will float in water withthe lamp-end uppermost and at or above water level, said conductive member comprising a split metal tube having one end clamped tightly on to'the central terminal of the battery, a spring member to bias the other end of said tube away from the said other end of the tube and said terminal of the lamp, an insulating tube within the tubular casing and surrounding both the battery and the split tube. discs within the insulating tube for 10- eating both ends of the split tube therein, and

switch means operable through said deformable portion to close the circuitbetween the other terminal of said battery and the other terminal ofsaid lamp, and'to urge said battery and spactubular casing 1ncluding a deform'able portion,

a lamp socket and lamp mounted onone end of lamp socket, a resilient spring contact between I member, and sw-itich means operable through said deformable ortion toclose the circuit b etwe'entlie-other'terminal f of saidbattery and the other terminal ofsaid -iamp, and to; urge-said battery andspacing member towardsthe lamp upon closing of'theswi-tch."

' 9'; 'An elect'ric torch -i'comprising a? water" tight tubular casing including a def'ormable portion;

a'lamp socket-rand lamp mounted on one end of said casing;- abattery mounted at the other end of said casing; a" rigid electrically conductive member disposed between said lamp and battery to space the same apart and electrically connect a terminal of said lamp to a terminal ofsaid battery, said member being sufliciently long to ensure that the torch will float in water with the lamp end uppermost and at or above water level, and switch means operable through said deformable portion to close the circuit between the other terminal of said battery and the otherterminal of said lamp, and to urge said battery and spacing member towards thelampupon closing of the switch, said switch .means including a yielding spring contact adapted to be brought intoengagement with a battery terminal by presto space the same apart and electrically connect sure exerted through said deformable portion of the casing, thespring of said spring contact returning said deformable portion to its ,initial position when pressure is released.

. 10. An electric torch comprising a water tight tubular casing including a deformable portion, a lamp socket and lamp mounted on one end of said casing, a batterymounted at the other end of said casing, a rigid electrically conductive member disposed between said lamp and battery a terminalv of said lamp to a terminal of said battery, said member being sufficiently long to ensure that the torch will float in water'with the lamp end uppermost and at or above water level,

switch means operable through said deformable portion t close the circuit between the other terminal of said battery and the other terminal of said lamp; and to urge said battery and spacing member towards the lamp upon closing of the switch, said switch means including a yielding spring contact adapted to be brought into engagement with a battery terminal by pressure exerted through said'deformable portion of the casing, the spring of said spring contact returning said deformable portion to its initial position when pressure is released, and a movable rigid cover: over said deformable portion for applying pressure to said deformable portion when moved to operate said switch means, said cover including means for locking the same in switch 7 operative position when moved.

11. An electric torch as setforth in claim 10 wherein the rigid cover is fixed by a breakable ends of the spaci ng men?- s seal in the inoperative position of the switching means, and wherein said cover has an aperture through which a probe can be inserted to operate the switching means by pressure on the deformable portion of the casing for testing purposes.

12. An electric torch as set forth in claim 7 wherein the switch means includes a yielding spring contact adapted to be brought into engagement with the battery terminal by pressure exerted through the deformable portion of the casing and in which the spring of said spring contact returns the deformable portion of the casing to its initial position when pressure is released.

13. An'electric torch as set forth in claim '7 wherein the switch means includes a. yielding spring contact adapted to be brought into engagement with thebattery terminal by pressure exerted through the deformable portion of the casing and in which the spring of said spring contact returns the deformable portion of the casing to its initial position when pressure is released, and wherein the torch has a movable rigid cover over the deformable portion which,

when moved, operates said switch by pressure on said deformable portion, and which includes means for locking said cover in switch operative position.

14. An electric torch 1 as set forth in claim 8 wherein the switch means includes a yielding spring contact adapted to be brought into engagement with the battery terminal by pressure exerted through the deformable portion of the casing and in which the spring of said spring contact returns the deformable portion of the casing to its initial position when pressure is released. 7 i

15. An electric torch as set forth in claim 8 wherein they switch means includes a yielding spring Contact adapted to be brought int engagement with the battery terminal by pressure exerted through the deformable portion of the casing and in which the spring ofsaid spring contact returns the deformable portion of the easing to its initial position when pressure is released, and wherein the torch has a movable rigid cover over the deformable portion Which, when moved, operates. said switch by pressure on said deformable portion and which includes means for locking said cover in switch operative position.

vCHARLES WALLACE SAUNDERS. 

